Chinese Dynasties

Order of Chinese Dynasties
Xia (pre-history – c.2200-1750 BC)
Shang (c. 1750-1050 BC)
Zhou (c. 1050-221 BC)
Oin (221-207 BC)
Han (206 BC – 220 AD)
Period of Disunity (220-589 AD)
Sui (589-618 AD)
Tang (618-907 AD)
Song (960-1279 AD)
Yuan (1271-1368 AD)
Ming (1368-1644 AD)
Qing (1644-1911 AD)
Republic (1911-1949 AD)
P.R.C. (mainland)/R.O.C. (Taiwan) – (1949-present)

The Han Dynasty

• Lasted 400 years
• One of the greatest periods in the history of China
• The ethnic majority of China today still refer to themselves as the “Han people”
• Prospered domestically in agriculture, handicrafts and commerce
• Extended it political and cultural influence over Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Central Asia
• Combined Legalist methods with the Taoist Philosophic ideals

Notable accomplishments

• Military prowess
• First established the Silk Road
• Officially became a Confucian state

Government

• Divided into 2 systems, the central and the local government
• Central government organized into a head cabinet of officials called the Three Lords and Nine Ministers
• Cabinet led by a chancelor
• Officials were graded by rank and salary
• Appointments made on merit of skills rather than aristocratic clan affiliation
• The main tax on the population was a Poll tax
• Also had a mandatory labor service for one month out of the year for adults

Culture, society, and technology

• Intellectual, literary, and artistic